Phacoemulsification using 8 flexible iris hooks in a patient with a short eye, small pupil, and phacodonesis

J Cataract Refract Surg. 2014 Sep;40(9):1408-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2014.07.009.

Abstract

We describe a technique that uses flexible iris hooks to dilate and stabilize the capsular bag in a patient with a very deep set and small eye, narrow palpebral fissure, shallow anterior chamber, and very small pupil, who was scheduled for routine phacoemulsification for a white cataract. At the time of iris hook placement, the capsular bag was noted to be markedly unstable. The patient was managed successfully with phacoemulsification of the lens using 4 iris hooks to dilate the pupil and 4 iris hooks to stabilize the capsular bag during surgery. A foldable posterior chamber 3-piece intraocular lens was fixated in the ciliary sulcus.

Financial disclosure: Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Eye Abnormalities / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Lens Diseases / surgery*
  • Lens Implantation, Intraocular*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ophthalmology / instrumentation*
  • Phacoemulsification / instrumentation
  • Phacoemulsification / methods*
  • Pupil*
  • Visual Acuity